Wireless space heater

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a wireless space heater ( 10 ) with a switch operated valve assembly ( 19 ) having a gas inlet ( 21 ), a gas outlet ( 22 ) coupled to a gas burner ( 30 ), a gas outlet ( 26 ) coupled to a pilot gas nozzle ( 28 ), a thermopile ( 31 ), a thermocouple ( 33 ), an igniter ( 35 ), and a wireless receiver ( 40 ) which receives instruction signals from a thermostat ( 50 ). The thermostat includes a wireless receiver/transmitter ( 51 ) so that it may communicate to a home wireless router ( 60 ) or alternatively a gateway ( 61 ) coupled to a router. As such, a smart phone, computer, tablet, PDA or any other similar electronic device may be utilized to communicate with the wireless space heater through the home router or gateway, and through the thermostat, with the use of a software application placed on the device.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Applicant claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/036,340 filed Aug. 12, 2014.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to heaters, and more particularly to space heaters having wireless capabilities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Space heaters may come in the form of free standing heaters, fireplace inserts, wall heaters, or the like. These heaters typically utilize a combustible fuel such as natural gas (NG) or liquid petroleum (LP).

A problem associated with these heaters is that they are turned on or off through a manual operation of the controls associated with the heater. As such, a room may be cold upon entering it as the heater typically is not operated in advance of the occupant manually actuating the heater. Additionally, the heater cannot be operated at different times or at levels when an occupant is not present, thus creating an efficiency problem.

Accordingly, it is seen that a need remains for a heater that can be controlled prior to the occupant arriving at the location of the heater or after the occupant has left the location. It is to the provision of such therefore that the present invention is primarily directed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the wireless space heater embodying principles of the invention in a preferred form, showing the wireless space heater, gateway, home router, smart phone, computer, and tablet.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the switch operated valve assembly of the wireless space heater of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference next to the drawings, there is shown a wireless space heater 10 in a preferred form of the invention. The wireless space heater 10 is in the form of a wall heater having a conventional housing. However, it should be understood that the present invention relates to and encompass other types of heaters including, but not limited to, portable heaters, free standing heaters, fireplace inserts, and wall mounted space heaters.

The wireless space heater or space heater unit 10 has a main fuel pressure regulator converter 11 with a fuel inlet 12 which is adapted to be coupled with an external fuel supply line 13. The main regulator converter 11 regulates the pressure of the fuel or gas entering the heater and may include a convertible valve or valve stem the position of which controls the pressure at which the fluid exits the main regulator converter 11 through main line outlet 16 in fluid communication with a main line 17. The main line 17 is coupled to a switch operated valve assembly 19.

The switch operated valve assembly 19 may be a conventional millivolt operator such as a SIT Nova model 0820637 made by SIT Group. The valve assembly 19 includes a gas inlet 21 coupled to the main line 17, a gas outlet 22 coupled to a gas burner line 23 which in turn is coupled to a gas burner 30, a rotary gas on/off/pilot valve 24, a high/low gas flow control valve 25, a pilot line gas outlet 26 coupled to a gas pilot line 27 which in turn is coupled to a gas nozzle 28, a thermopile 31 mounted adjacent the gas burner 30 through a conductor 32, a thermocouple 33 mounted adjacent the gas burner 30 through a conductor 34, and an igniter 35 mounted adjacent the gas nozzle 28. The valve assembly 19 also includes electrical connectors or contacts 37 for electrically coupling the valve assembly 19 to a receiver 40. The thermopile, thermocouple, gas nozzle and igniter may be considered an ODS (oxygen depletion sensor) set. The valve assembly includes a solenoid 39 which controls the flow of gas to the gas outlet 22.

The on/off/pilot control valve 24 has a drive axle or spindle having a control handle or knob at one end. The rotary position (through downward actuation) of the knob controls the flow of fluid to the outlets 22 and 26, i.e., with the knob in a first, “off” position the main line outlet 22 and pilot line outlet 26 are closed so that no fuel is passing through the valve assembly 19. When with the drive spindle 23 is in a second, “pilot” position the main line outlet 22 is closed and the pilot line outlet 26 is open so that the fuel passes through the pilot line outlet. When the knob is in a third, “on” position the main line outlet 22 and pilot line outlet 26 are opened so long as the pilot flame is lit. The thermocouple 33 is coupled to the valve assembly 19 through electrical conductor 34 so that the absence of a flame shuts off the system by closing the flow of fuel to the gas outlets 22 and 26. The wireless space heater 10 may include an electric fan 40 for inducing an airflow over the burner 30 and into the room to be heated.

The receiver 40 is preferably wireless so as to receive electronic instruction signals wirelessly from a wall or handheld thermostat 50, although alternatively the wireless space heater 10 may be hardwired to the thermostat 50. The thermostat may be thought of as being distinct and separate from the space heater (unit) 10 as they include separate housings and may be placed in different or remote locations. The thermostat 50 also includes a wireless receiver/transmitter 51 so that it may communicate with a home wireless router 60 or alternatively a gateway 61 coupled to a router 60. The home router 60 or gateway 61, also referred herein as a wireless signal device, receives (wireless) communication signals (electronic signals) through conventional means such as a public communication network (internet) or private communication network (extranet). As such, a smart phone 70, computer 71, tablet 72, PDA or any other similar device may be utilized to communicate with the wireless space heater 10 through the home router 60 or gateway 61 and thermostat 50, with the use of a software application placed on the device. This software may be programmed to show the current time, current temperature, time and temperature setting schedule, current temperature setting, or other relevant data, as well as being capable of changing the current temperature setting or time and temperature setting schedule. The gateway 61 may use any conventional protocol such as that distributed by IRIS. It should also be understood that all wireless communications described herein may use any conventional wireless protocols, such as cellular, WIFI, infrared signals (when allowable), bluetooth, Z-wave, etc.

In use, the fuel supply line 13 is coupled to the fuel inlet 12 of the regulator converter 11. Initially, the fuel is supplied to the wireless space heater 10 through the fuel supply line 13 with the valve 24 positioned in its “off” position thereby preventing the flow of fuel to the outlets 22 and 26, and subsequently to the gas burner 30 and pilot nozzle 28. If the control valve 21 is then positioned in its “pilot” position, fuel passes through pilot outlet 26 to gas pilot line 27 to nozzle 28 for ignition. While in the “pilot” position fuel is prevented from flowing out of gas outlet 22 to the burner 30. Once the pilot light is ignited, the control valve 24 is moved to its “on” position wherein the flow of the fuel remains flowing to the pilot light nozzle 28, as just described, but the fuel also flows through outlet 22 and gas line 23 to the gas burner 30. The amount of fuel flowing through outlet 22 is controlled by the position of high/low valve 25, which directly correlates to the amount of theat being generated by the heater.

It should be understood that the ODS systems work in conventional fashion, wherein the ignition of the pilot light causes the heating of the thermocouples which in turn creates a current generated in the thermocouple which signals a safe condition to the control valve 19. If the pilot light goes out or is disturbed, the heat generated signal by the thermocouples is reduced or terminated and the valve assembly 19 automatically shuts off the flow of fuel exiting the valve assembly 19.

The heat from the burning of fuel at pilot nozzle 28 heats the thermopile 31, which creates an electric current that powers the valve assembly 19. As such, the wireless space heater 10 may operate totally independent of any electrical system, i.e., no battery or A.C. current is needed to operate the wireless space heater. The only exclusion to the independent operation of the heater may be the inclusion of the electric fan 40, which dependent upon its energy needs may require ancillary power.

With the wireless space heater in operational condition, one may operate a software application on the phone 70, computer 71 or tablet 72. The software application communicates electronic signals wirelessly with the home router 60 which then communicates with thermostat 50, either wirelessly or through a wireless gateway 61 which communicates wirelessly with the thermostat 50, i.e., the home router or gateway conventionally includes a built in receiver and transmitter. The thermostat 50 then communicates electronic signals, wirelessly or through hard wires, with receiver 40. This communication network allows the operator to receive data, such as the current temperature, current temperature settings, current time interval settings for any time/temperature programs, or other data affiliated with the heater or thermostat. The operator may remotely change any time or temperature setting or any program related to the thermostat through the access device (smart phone 70, computer 71, tablet 72, or other device). Thus, one may commence the heating operation of the wireless space heater prior to the operator arriving at the home, or one may stop the heating operation of the wireless space heater should the operator forget to turn the heater off and realize such after leaving the home through interaction with the access device. The operator may also remotely program the thermostat so that it operates at different temperatures throughout different time period during the course of a day.

It should be understood that the present space heater is intended to mean a generally self contained heating device and is not intended to include HVAC systems and the like which are very different in construction and use.

It should be understood that the term fluid, gas, and fuel are used herein to refer to both gases, liquids, and/or a combination thereof and may be used interchangeably herein. It should be understood that the term line may be used interchangeable with pipe, conduit, tube or other similar structure intended to convey fluids therethrough.

It should be understood that the switch operated valve assembly may also use other types of components besides the millivolt system shown in the preferred embodiment.

Lastly, it should also be understood that the entire system includes the transmission and reception of three different and distinct electronic signals, which include electronic signals between the phone 70, computer 71 or tablet 72 and the home router 60 or gateway 61, between the router 60 or gateway 61 and the thermostat 50, and between the thermostat 50 and the space heater unit receiver 40.

It thus is seen that a wireless space heater is now provided which may be quickly and easily operated remotely. While this invention has been described in detail with particular reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it should be understood that many modification, additions and deletions, may be made thereto without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A wireless space heater comprising; a wireless signal device having an electronic receiver and a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit a control signal; a thermostat having a thermostat receiver configured to wirelessly receive said control signal from said wireless signal device and a thermostat transmitter configured to transmit a second control signal, and a space heating unit separate and distinct from said thermostat, said space heating unit having: (A) a space heating unit receiver configured to receive said second control signal from said thermostat transmitter, (B) a switch operated valve assembly having a gas inlet, at least one gas outlet, and an electronic switch electronically coupled to said space heating unit receiver to control the flow of gas from said gas inlet to said gas outlet in response to said second control signal, (C) a gas burner in fluid communication with said at least one gas outlet of said switch operated valve assembly, and (D) a gas pilot nozzle in fluid communication with said at least one gas outlet of said switch operated valve assembly.
 2. The wireless space heater of claim 1 wherein said space heating unit also includes an oxygen depletion sensor electronically coupled to said switch operated valve assembly.
 3. The wireless space heater of claim 1 wherein said thermostat is wirelessly connected to said space heating unit receiver.
 4. The wireless space heater of claim 1 wherein said wireless signal device is a wireless router.
 5. The wireless space heater of claim 1 wherein said wireless signal device is a gateway in communication with a wireless router.
 6. The wireless space heater of claim 1 wherein said switch operated valve assembly includes an on/off/pilot control valve.
 7. The wireless space heater of claim 1 wherein said switch operated valve assembly includes a solenoid and wherein gas outlet includes a gas pilot line outlet and a gas burner line outlet, and wherein said solenoid controls the flow of gas to both said gas pilot line outlet and said gas burner line outlet.
 8. The wireless space heater of claim 1 wherein said switch operated valve assembly is coupled to a thermopile.
 9. A wireless space heater comprising; a wireless signal device having a first electronic receiver adapted to receive a first electronic signal and a wireless first transmitter adapted to wirelessly transmit a second electronic signal; a thermostat having a second receiver adapted to wirelessly receive said second electronic signal from said first transmitter of said wireless signal device and a second transmitter adapted to wirelessly transmit a third electronic signal, and a space heating unit having a gas burner and a third electronic receiver adapted to receive said third electronic signal from said second transmitter of said thermostat, said third electronic receiver being electronically coupled to a valve assembly for controlling the flow of gas from a gas supply to said gas burner.
 10. The wireless space heater of claim 9 wherein said space heating unit also includes an oxygen depletion sensor electronically coupled to said valve assembly.
 11. The wireless space heater of claim 9 wherein said thermostat is wirelessly connected to said third electronic receiver of said space heating unit.
 12. The wireless space heater of claim 9 wherein said wireless signal device is a wireless router.
 13. The wireless space heater of claim 9 wherein said wireless signal device a gateway in communication with a wireless router.
 14. The wireless space heater of claim 9 wherein said valve assembly includes an on/off/pilot control valve.
 15. The wireless space heater of claim 9 wherein said valve assembly is a switch activated valve assembly which includes a solenoid and wherein gas outlet includes a gas pilot line outlet and a gas burner line outlet, and wherein said solenoid controls the flow of gas to both said gas pilot line outlet and said gas burner line outlet.
 16. The wireless space heater of claim 9 wherein said valve assembly is coupled to a thermopile. 